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A mother from Birmingham says her disabled son can't leave the house because the NHS has refused to pay for the equipment he needs.

Fourteen-year-old Hamid Hussain from Erdington has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and needs a machine to help him breathe.

Because he doesn't have a portable one he is effectively house bound.

Hamid's 19-year-old brother Ahmed, who has the same condition, did get funding for a 'cough-assist' machine, meaning he can enjoy more freedom, doing the things other teenagers do. The NHS says it does not 'routinely commission' the machines. Chris Halpin reports.

Police in Birmingham are appealing for the public’s help to find a missing Syrian woman.

Soumia Altaha, who does not speak English, was last seen on Broad Street in the city centre at around 11am on 17 February.

Soumia Altaha was last seen on 17 February Credit: West Midlands Police

The 22-year-old is described by police as Asian in appearance, 5ft 5ins tall, with shoulder length black hair. She was last seen wearing a dark blue skirt, pink woollen coat, beige headscarf and black handbag.

Soumia has only been in the country since the end of January, when she came here to join her husband who works as an interpreter.

She was living in the Kingsbridge Road area of Bartley Green at the time of her disappearance and although we have made numerous inquiries in the area and with her family back in Syria, we are yet to trace her.

Soumia does not speak the language, has no money on her and - to the best of our knowledge - does not know anyone else here, so as time passes we are becoming increasingly worried about her welfare.

We just need to know that she is safe and well and I would urge anyone who has seen her - or Soumia herself - to contact us on 101.

A man has been arrested in connection with a stabbing and attempted robbery in Boston.

Police were called to the Gassy Pad area, near the Sluice Bridge, shortly after 10pm on Monday night after a 46 year-old man was assaulted. The victim was treated at Boston Pilgrim Hospital for a stab injury.

A short time later, a 25 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH, possession of an offensive weapon and attempted robbery. He was suffering from self-inflicted injuries and is currently receiving treatment in hospital under police guard.